The Old Joliet Prison From Prison Break | The History of Illinois Worst Correctional Facility

[@tangyorange6509]

So many of us in the Chicago area love this channel so much. Pass so many of these locations everyday

[@CoryGames1400]

Fib

[@vickikuhrmeier318]

I was a Correctional Officer at JCC from 1979 to 1982. I worked assignments in Tower #3 (at the back of the prison on Collins St), the front box approving visits for the inmates, West cellhouse, East cellhouse, the Hospital, and the Dining room. It was a very interesting job to say the least.

[@kimhall5863]

Yes please do a video on the Metropolitan Correctional Center! Every time I go downtown and see it I am fascinated by it! Also thank you for all the unique information on the Old Joliet Prison it definitely has an iconic presence.

[@Supreme36074]

I was a inmate in 2002 & closed it & the parole office down. We moved all operations to Stateville on box trucks … I cleaned out all the buildings . I can give a tour still all these years later . Great video …

[@johnmccree8941]

I was there in 77. For about 5 months.

[@Itsaboutthewaterlife]

Wow.

[@iankerr1549]

That’s how we moved our shop lol all our equipment and toolboxes and everything in between on trailers. I can imagine the line of them lol going up the road. I’m assuming you guys took division before the bridge went down?

[@carlsaganlives4036]

Was a guest for a week or so in '92 when it was a 'distribution center' on my way to Vandalia...scary place where everyone's dumped in together regardless of your crime or sentence. A guard wheeled a phone down the walkway a couple times, but I didn't get to use it cuz I'm not a gang member and my celly used up all the time...no one knew where I was...real-life horror movie.

[@Supreme36074]

@@iankerr1549 sorry , didn’t realize anyone responded but we would only load them , they had inmates at Statesville take them off. Trucks over & over. Worse part was moving a beautiful old table down the spindly steps in the admin building , we had to go calm near vertical it’s so tiny .

[@The..Dark..Knight]

I used to go to church as a kid like 5 minutes away from this old place. I remember that we rarely ventured over by it because the neighborhoods surrounding it had gone down hill over the years. There was one place those from Joliet referred to as "The Hill" not too far away. It was a single road that went up the hill and dead ended surrounded by these projects. The road was not wide and there wasnt enough room to do a u-turn except at the end. There were drugs being sold out of most of these buildings and if they saw you coming down the street and you looked like you didnt belong, they would run out as your car passed by and drag downed telephone poles out across the road basically trapping you there. The police would not go there unless in force. I remember wanting to explore the old Joliet Prison and get a look at what was left, but none of dared to go into the area because of the drug spots and gang violence around the area.

[@michaeljdauben]

I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and drove past the Joliet prison many times. I never knew much about it beyond its appearance in the Blues Brothers movie, so I really enjoyed your video about its history.

[@MotoTweezy]

Yes I’m from Joliet class of 02 at Joliet Central High School the line stone quarry is across the street from the prison

[@CableMan67]

I lived only a few miles from there and remember going to see The Blues Brothers seen being filmed back in the 80´s. Great story on its history!

[@jasonmuscarello8305]

This now open to the public. My wife and I just visited a few weeks ago. The tunnels are flooded,and have been for years now. They used to use them to get in the pillars. No guard could ever leave their post while at work. You should visit it sometime soon,and get some more facts from those who actually worked there. Just a suggestion,I enjoy your channel! Keep up the good work!👍

[@milkcashew]

Great video! You should do one on the adjacent Joliet Iron Works, it’s now mostly a trail where you can closely see the prison from a distance! There’s a small creek there that appears to connect to the prison, I wonder if it might be connected to the escape by Cole mentioned (there’s also a gravel road used by the forest preserve and BNSF workers next to it)

[@tomperry1048]

Ryan, please be advised that the alternative facility north of Joliet is named Stateville, not Statesville.

[@davidgibb6983]

Seriously!

[@johnmccree8941]

Who cares... people know what it's the same prison.

[@tomperry1048]

@@johnmccree8941 ... But do you know that a maggot is a tiny little baby fly???

[@fitlife1205]

😂😂😂😂

[@carlsaganlives4036]

"Soldiers" Field.

[@cynthiaA1218]

Thanks! As a fellow Chicagoan Love your videos.

[@ITSHISTORY]

Thank you for watching and supporting the channel!

[@realShadowKat]

Joliet has a minor league baseball team alluding back to the prison -- Joliet Slammers. Their mascots are a guard dog (Spikes) and a bird wearing prison stripes... of course, named J. L. Bird.

[@dustyvanbrocklin4731]

I can still remember an internship I took during college with a sheriff’s office in northern Illinois and we took an inmate to Joliet because it was northern recreation center back in 2001. The building is so imposing.

[@Timeothy]

My friends and I broke into this place a few years back, it was amazing.

[@KrystianNowak008]

I lived in the area and went to Lewis U. in Romeoville Passing by Statesville and Joliet Prisons were a daily thing. Such a cool vid, Ryan!

[@makthnife]

Same here! Good ol Lewis, Statesville & JP

[@RENEGADE-gk9hv]

Great content... can you do the Statesville Penitentiary in illinois? Would be cool...

[@LisaF3234]

I'll be interested in a video about Tammes Correctional Facility and the Tinley Park Mental Health Hospital

[@justinenewberry1209]

I’m from Alton and parts of the Alton location still stands to this day

[@billotto602]

I went by this place many times as a child. It always scared me.

[@kevinpoore5626]

Well back in the day I used to visit my brother in joliette when he was service sometime and then they transfer him to Statesville about three years before it closed

[@urlocalhistorybuff316]

Got to say, Illinois has a lot of very interesting historical places. You should do a video on the David Davis Mansion: which was visited by Abraham Lincoln numerous times.

[@NLMB500]

My mom worked at that jail and I went to Joliet central 😅

[@donpeters9849]

Been there, then Statesville, then Sterling Hgts. Started out in Cook.

[@carlsaganlives4036]

The dreaded bullpen at Cook where it all starts...

[@naturelvr123]

I recognize the Collins Street Prison because I lived in Joliet. Sorry, I had to tell you it was my old "stomping" grounds. :) Oh, and I went to the Joliet H. S. (JTHS as we called her). Now, I need to get back to watching the rest of your video here. Paul, ps. I graduated in 1963 from JTHS

[@brendakrieger7000]

Appreciate you sharing

[@thejerichoharlot2447]

Great video!

[@TheRagratus]

It has a fantastic haunted house for Halloween. I mean c'mon, the place is scary just on its own lol.

[@WinkelManBearPig]

YOU MADE IT THANK YOU!

[@Neverhome365]

Great video didn’t know they actually had tunnel tours when we went. Most of the buildings are blocked off because of negligent. The roof of the administration building has collapsed. Plus the burnt district mattress factory,machine shop and even the records room.

[@kathys.1764]

This is a good one!

[@ITSHISTORY]

Thanks !!! Should we make the one about Chicagos skyscraper jail?

[@Panthersigma]

@@ITSHISTORY Yes Please !

[@kotamoda]

its a really sad place, been there before for a history tour and its crazy the things that happened there...

[@laurachristianson1688]

Double interesting as my mom worked as the wardens secretary and I worked across the street at the IBI (Illinois Bureau of Investigation) as a fingerprint technician lol, where I actually had to physically examine fingerprint cards to find matches. She always said the place was a hell hole. This was in the seventies.

[@dp7047]

But sounds so interesting Laura

[@JohnB-we7ym]

Awesome! Did you know they’re finally tearing down that lab and building a state of the art facility

[@TheSourKraut]

Great video! And instant flashback to Joliet-Jake's release scene. (Still one of my top 3 favorite movies EVER) Thanks If that complex was in a slightly more desirable/secure/attractive area (i.e. Baghdad, Calcutta or Elmira), it would make one hell of a "themed" resort or Aretha Christie B&B with interated dinner theater. Or it could be free housing for members of Congress. Almost no renovations and updates needed.

[@phil4193]

The prison is called "Stateville". The haunted house that pops up every October has to call itself "Statesville" because the real prison doesn't let them use the same name.

[@realShadowKat]

Even that has gone now... Statesville haunted house hosted its final year in 2021.

[@RLJSlick]

Excellent work as always! Love your videos..

[@robotnielsen5434]

Went there for a concert, it's actually a great venue for shows!

[@ginog5037]

Yes Ryan that would be cool doing a video on the Metropolitan. Also can you do a video on Boblo Island and its 2 famous boats?

[@jimgreeson9783]

Well timed video. Rode around this a few days ago.

[@phillipgarrow2297]

My grandmother walked past that prison on her way to school

[@alvin1039]

I worked as CO there for 5 years

[@Itsaboutthewaterlife]

Wow. Good for you.

[@jasonjensen6330]

They need a new prison in IL for the politions...😂

[@conflict7269]

Absolutely

[@Activesilver97]

I always wanted to take a tour of the place, just been busy, but I've either drove passes the prison, rode the public bus on the 832, and 834

[@dp7047]

Stateville not Statesville. But my God, I love these old Chicago videos

[@droningharry]

I used to pass the Prison everyday. I was ignorant of most of the problems. My Grandpa worked at Stateville in the 50's. He had a choice between the two Prisons and choose Statesville. I think he Wass glad he did. The only Prison I really had an interest in was Vandalia my Father in Law was the Head Chaplin there. He almost convinced me to become a Guard there in the 90's but I passed. This was great I really learned a lot about the place. Make the video on the Met I think it would be interesting.

[@dp7047]

They used to call it Clandalia because it was said to be more racist than other Central Illinois prisons

[@carlsaganlives4036]

@@dp7047 Did 3 months there in the early 90's - 'clandalia' refers to the town and surrounding area, not the prison, and it just sort of spilled over. Plus it's old. Minimum security, no drama. As 'quiet' as a prison you could hope to be at, really.

[@gregorydonatelli3429]

Back in the day, the Annex, or smaller building across the street from Joliet Prison. It was known as "Little Joliet".

[@ShakeMobile]

Please do the prison in Dixon!

[@fortress1133]

The warden threw a party in the county jail, The prison band was there and they began to wail, The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing, You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing Let's rock!

[@smallmouthguy2264]

In october they rurn the old prison into a haunted house its pretty cool

[@amethyst2112]

Stateville not Statesville 😊

[@jasonrackawack9369]

"I cant believe on the very day I get released from prison...my own brother picks me up in a police car" -Joliet Jake

[@elliotmontanez]

great video! We shot a lyrical lemonade music video at this location back in 2021

[@glennso47]

There’s now a correction center in Thomson Illinois.

[@blackhawk2302]

That got shut down years ago

[@BrianUnderwood-q5u]

I spent a year in Joliet. It was an experience I wouldn't wish on anybody. I was scared straight

[@Dmite_The_Great_6558]

I been to both of these 🤦🏽‍♂️ horrible

[@crippleguy415]

Creepy looking prison for sure 😳

[@ciggy2693]

Yes, please do a video on the Metropolitan!

[@joe66692]

I say if you are in prison then you deserve what you get. Worst of the worst should get the worst food, and the worst accommodations. If you can't do the time don't do the crime. The harder we are on criminals the less likely they are to commit crimes in the first place.

[@hallamhal]

I didnt know it from Prison Break - But I did know about it from The Blues Brothers!

[@dirtydan9432]

Stateville* and where did you get information on the tunnels I’ve never heard of this?!

[@Joshua-of9vq]

What happened to Thompson?

[@carch7243]

About 3 minutes of the Blues Brother's movie was filmed near an east door, that hadn't been used for decades, on Collins street in Joliet. None of the movie was filmed inside of the prison. The prison was still open in 1980 when the movie was made. The rest was filmed in other areas of Illinois. The prison is not haunted, never has been. The prison shown in the first photograph of this video is the old women's prison, not the Joliet Correctional facility. It's a completely different building.

[@Iliketochopwood]

At least once a year there is some arson fire in one of those buildings. You could knock most of it down and keep small parts for a museum but its in a not great part of Joliet either so not sure how much tourism it would really get.

[@ObieG93]

What were some of the gangs inside Joliet Prison?

[@j.d.9381]

Do a history of Tennessee State Prison in Nashville

[@iwouldliketoorderanumber1b79]

It’s also called stateville, I know a few cats who spent some time in this box.

[@jaywasserman8334]

i have a picture of the oldest cell in old joliet. the civil war cell. it's outside in the yard along a wall in a corner, the door and bed are still there.

[@scawful]

Joliet mentioned!!!

[@KEO9999]

I live 20 minutes from there

[@travelteam89]

My dad was in there think in the 80s I'll have to ask him...He was there when Gacy was there. Then Gacy left.

[@DaveSCameron]

Such outstanding and impressive buildings and just a real pity the agenda and policies never matched up to them, cheers Ryan. 👍⭐

[@KushEnergy]

My dad worked there before. Love you dad.

[@moody9442]

question? were do you put a tunnel full of dirt?

[@andraclark9993]

Please do some haunted houses with back stories . 😊

[@tylerkinley268]

Ive never liked Joliet (in general). There's old Joliet, there's stateville (unpleasant times), and more recently they chose to close an AMAZING paintball field (Challenge Park) so they could make a truck stop. To hell with Joliet.

[@carch7243]

Joliet is a hole. I hate to admit I am from there. Leaving that town and state was the best thing I have done in my life.

[@ConnorHolbrook419]

Please do one on the old Ohio Reformatory either the one in Mansfield or the older one in Columbus, or on the Lima Correction Center here in Ohio, or do one on Lukasville that's here in Ohio also.

[@johnnyd.9921]

I worked there for 20 years

[@rose415]

yes the other jail plz

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Still trying to figure out who Milton Burley is, mentioned in another video along with Lucille Ball.

[@xavierruiz9429]

I was there when it closed and we got shipped out Statesville was worst then joliet

[@roberthansen2008]

I'd like to see metropolitan correctional center. It's hard to believe that among all the fancy property in downtown Chicago like condominiums offices tourist attractions and colleges there's a Federal prison downtown.

[@rosesummers6658]

I remember this prison, I used teach and have CHURCH with the immates for 2 years.

[@Bigsioux1]

My uncle and a distant cousin spent time in this fancy hotel.

[@toadhouse7homestead871]

How hard is it to keep a straight face when filming this?

[@michaelmartinez4837]

I'll never forget going there as a young man 19 or so i received a number B-39462 I remember during the orientation we are all lined up and we were told we are going to be giving a number and we would remember it for the rest of our lives that we could forget our names this would be our new name if we wanted mail if we wanted anything we better have remembered our number. I remember the sounds and clinking of metal bar sliding doors when closing all at once. And how the officers would walk by with their batons hitting the bars listening for a certain tone to see if someone was cutting into. I'll never forget the sounds and screams and cries I've heard from victims being raped or severely hurt. And the guards did not come running looking for where they were coming from. I do remember the chapel. I remember showering in the shower house and reading a plaque outside commemorating the Al Capone had indeed used that shower house and spent time there as well. I'm 53 now and I'll never forget my time in Joliet. I made it out, alot did not.

[@johnmccree8941]

Gacy was transferred to Menard.. early 80s ...I KNOW this.

[@stickyhood]

Can you do history of new York state through way

[@dennismcatee1313]

Nice content but can we have something other then Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

[@richgiggle99]

I learned about the prison from KZbinr CJ on 32’s whose a resident of Juliet and records car shows at the prison

[@dabearsfan4life]

I was at the Woman’s site of the prison tonight, this site is now a haunted house.

[@mikemarsman4539]

just went on tour few weeks back,, great to learn more here

[@rogerpenske2411]

Also known as Joliet Charm School

[@taysmith9321]

So much horror stories at the castle dam they had to closed it people who had a R# was the last set of inmates to get processed out the castle when they shut it down

[@melpatt04]

Love the channel a bit let down by this video. Some mistakes. Tours are great there, tunnels are not open.

[@delliardo583]

0:00 LOOK AT THIS PHOTOGRAPH!

[@ChefKevinRiese]

Actually a 4 34 that chili looks good!

[@rogerpenske2411]

I know two guys who did time in there One for second-degree murder and the other for a DU:

[@andresc5915]

Damn. We need to bring back sour soup and hard labor.

[@DLeadVox]

💗💗💗

[@smaslan9601]

That why they call it the Dirty J. Land of the 5 prisons Having lived in the area it was as rough as the town it in.